Colombo: The Islamic State has taken responsibility for the dastardly attack in Sri Lanka on Easter day that left around 321 dead and more than 500 injured.
The terrorist group issued the claim through the jihadi news agency AMAQ. In the statement the group says, “Those that carried out the attack that targeted members of the US-led coalition and Christians in Sri Lanka the day before yesterday are Islamic State group fighters.”
Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Deputy Defence Minister, Ruwan Wijewardene, said that the attack on churches in Sri Lanka was in retribution to the 15 March killing of 50 Muslims in two mosques at Christ Church in New Zealand by a white supremacist.
The Minister said, “The preliminary investigations have revealed that what happened in Sri Lanka was in retaliation for the attack against Muslims in Christchurch.”
A series of 8 bombs went off in three churches and luxury hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter day. The blast was well planned to increase the death toll. It is considered the worst attack in the island nation since the civil war ended almost a decade ago.
Sri Lankan security agencies were maintaining that the attack was carried by a local Muslim terror group, National Towheed Jamath. With the Islamic State claiming responsibility for the blasts the Easter Day bombings are gaining wider significance.
The IS which has lost ground in Middle East seems to be opening up new battle fronts across the world. After carrying out horrifying terror attacks in European cities, the group seems to be targeting Asian countries.
